IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0436712
(2009-05-06)
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등록번호 |
US-8105223
(2012-01-31)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Graham, Thomas D.
- Anderson, Ricki D.
- Rojas, Guillermo
- Smith, Kenneth C.
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Smurfit-Stone Container Enterprises, Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
18 인용 특허 :
40 |
초록
▼
A method of forming a container from a blank of sheet material using a machine is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel, two side panels, two end panels, and a reinforcing panel assembly extending from a first side panel. The machine includes a hopper station, a corner post forming station, an
A method of forming a container from a blank of sheet material using a machine is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel, two side panels, two end panels, and a reinforcing panel assembly extending from a first side panel. The machine includes a hopper station, a corner post forming station, and a plunger station. The method includes rotating the reinforcing panel assembly upwardly toward the first side panel as the blank is transported from the hopper station to the corner post forming station, forming a corner wall and a reinforcing end tab by folding reinforcing panels about fold lines as the blank is transported through the corner post forming station, rotating the side panels and the end panels to be substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel by directing the blank through the plunger station, and coupling the reinforcing end tab to an end panel to form the container.
대표청구항
▼
1. A machine for forming a polygonal container from a blank of sheet material, the blank including a bottom panel having opposing side edges and opposing end edges, two opposing side panels each extending from one of the side edges of the bottom panel, two opposing end panels each extending from one
1. A machine for forming a polygonal container from a blank of sheet material, the blank including a bottom panel having opposing side edges and opposing end edges, two opposing side panels each extending from one of the side edges of the bottom panel, two opposing end panels each extending from one of the end edges of the bottom panel, and a reinforcing panel assembly including a plurality of reinforcing panels separated by a plurality of fold lines, the reinforcing panel assembly extending from a first side edge of a first side panel of the two side panels, said machine comprising: a hopper station configured to rotate the reinforcing panel assembly upwardly about a first fold line of the plurality of fold lines toward the first side panel, an exterior surface of the blank facing downward within said hopper station;a corner post forming station configured to form a partially formed container from the blank by folding the plurality of reinforcing panels about the plurality of fold lines, the partially formed container including a corner wall and a reinforcing end tab formed from the reinforcing panel assembly; anda plunger station configured to rotate the side panels and the end panels to be substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel and to couple the reinforcing end tab to one of the end panels to transform the partially formed container into the container, said plunger station comprising: a plurality of plows configured to rotate the side panels and the end panels toward an interior surface of the bottom panel to form side walls and end walls of the container, said plurality of plows adjacent to a plunger opening; anda plunger having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of the container and being vertically movable through said plunger opening, said plunger configured to contact the interior surface of the bottom panel and to push the partially formed container downward through said plunger opening and past said plurality of plows. 2. A machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein the reinforcing panel assembly includes an outer reinforcing panel extending from the first side edge of the first side panel, an inner reinforcing panel extending from a side edge of the outer reinforcing panel, and an inner side panel extending from a side edge of the inner reinforcing panel, said corner post forming station comprises: a transport system for transporting the blank downstream from said hopper station toward said plunger station;a first rail set adjacent said hopper station and configured to fold the outer reinforcing panel and the inner reinforcing panel into face-to-face contact about the plurality of fold lines and said transport system transports the blank downstream; anda second rail set adjacent said plunger station and configured to fold the outer reinforcing panel and the inner reinforcing panel about the plurality of fold lines to form the corner wall and the reinforcing end tab said second rail set downstream from said first rail set. 3. A machine in accordance with claim 2 wherein said first rail set comprises: an upper rail configured to rotate the inner reinforcing panel toward an interior surface of the outer reinforcing panel by contacting an exterior surface of at least one of the inner reinforcing panel and the inner side panel;a first lower rail configured to maintain a position of the outer reinforcing panel with respect to the first side panel by contacting an interior surface of the outer reinforcing panel; anda second lower rail configured to maintain the position of the outer reinforcing panel with respect to the first side panel by contacting an exterior surface of the outer reinforcing panel. 4. A machine in according with claim 3 further comprising a stop plate adjacent to said first rail set, said upper rail configured to rotate the inner side panel toward said stop plate, and said stop plate configured to apply a force to an interior surface of the inner side panel to rotate the inner side panel toward the exterior surface of the inner reinforcing panel. 5. A machine in accordance with claim 2 wherein the outer reinforcing panel includes a corner panel extending from the first side edge of the first side panel and a first reinforcing end panel extending from a side edge of the corner panel, and the inner reinforcing panel includes a second reinforcing end panel extending from a side edge of the first reinforcing end panel and an inner reinforcing corner panel extending from a side edge of the second reinforcing end panel, the inner side panel extending from a side edge of the inner reinforcing corner panel, said second rail set comprising: an upper rail configured to rotate the first reinforcing end panel and the second reinforcing end panel toward an exterior surface of the reinforcing corner panel by contacting an exterior surface of the first reinforcing end panel, wherein the first reinforcing end panel and the second reinforcing end panel are in face-to-face contact; anda lower rail configured to maintain a position of the corner panel and the reinforcing corner panel with respect the first side panel by contacting an exterior surface of the corner panel, wherein the corner panel and the reinforcing corner panel are in face-to-face contact. 6. A machine in accordance with claim 5 wherein said lower rail of said second rail set comprises a lower rail of said first rail set. 7. A machine in accordance with claim 5 further comprising a series of rollers adjacent said second rail set, said series of rollers comprising at least one angled roller and at least one vertical roller, said angled roller configured to contact an exterior surface of the reinforcing corner panel for maintaining an angle between at least the reinforcing corner panel and the first side panel, and said vertical roller configured to contact at least an exterior surface of the inner side panel to facilitate securing the inner side panel to the first side panel. 8. A machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plurality of plows comprises: at least one pair of side panel plows configured to rotate the first side panel toward the interior surface of the bottom panel by contacting an exterior surface of the first side panel; andat least one end panel plow assembly configured to rotate a first end panel of the two end panels toward the interior surface of the bottom panel by contacting an exterior surface of the first end panel. 9. A machine in accordance with claim 8 wherein said at least one end panel plow assembly comprises: a frame that is rotatable with respect to the plunger opening;an end panel plow coupled to said frame, said end panel plow configured to rotate the first end panel toward the interior surface of the bottom panel by contacting the exterior surface of the first end panel;a pair of glue plates coupled to said frame, wherein said end panel plow is positioned between said glue plates; anda pair of glue rollers, each glue roller coupled adjacent a top end of a respective glue plate of said pair of glue plates, a first glue plate and a first glue roller configured to press an interior surface of the first end panel into contact with the reinforcing end tab to form the container. 10. A machine in accordance with claim 8, wherein the blank includes at least one outer reinforcing corner panel extending from a first side edge of a first end panel of the two end panels and the reinforcing panel assembly includes a corner panel extending from the first side edge of the first side panel, said machine further comprising at least one corner pusher positioned between a first side panel plow of said pair of side panel plows and said at least one end panel plow assembly, said corner pusher configured to move toward the plunger opening to force the at least one outer reinforcing corner panel into contact with an exterior surface of the corner panel to form the container. 11. A machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said hopper station comprises: a hopper configured to support the blank substantially horizontally with the exterior surface of the blank facing downward;a feed mechanism configured to pull the blank downward through said hopper station to remove the blank from said hopper;at least one stationary plow configured to fold the reinforcing panel assembly with respect to the first side panel; andat least one moving plow configured to fold a second reinforcing panel assembly with respect to a second side panel of the two side panels, said at least one moving plow configured to move toward and away from said at least one stationary plow. 12. A machine in accordance with claim 11 wherein said feed mechanism comprises: at least one suction cup;at least one support bar configured to contact the exterior surface of the bottom panel;a vertical actuator configured to move said at least one suction cup and said at least one support bar toward and away from said hopper; anda horizontal actuator configured to move said at least one suction cup and said at least one support toward and away from said corner post forming station. 13. A machine in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a first adhesive applicator positioned between said hopper station and said corner post forming station, said first adhesive applicator configured to apply adhesive to an interior surface of the side panels. 14. A machine in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a second adhesive applicator positioned between said corner post forming station and said plunger station, said second adhesive applicator configured to apply adhesive to at least an exterior surface of an outer reinforcing panel of the reinforcing panel assembly. 15. A machine in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an ejection station comprising an exit conveyor extending at least partially through a bottom end of said plunger station.
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